Is 720p vs 1080i worth being concerned about? Yes and no. If you’re a consumer looking for a new TV, you can happily ignore the 720p vs 1080i debate because every TV which is described as HDTV or HDTV Ready is required to support both formats.

NOTE: You should be aware though that lots of TVs which support 1080i have fewer
than 1080 lines and so scale the 1080 signal down. That’s not a huge issue as even
scaled down 1080i is far ahead of a regular NTSC signal. It is worth bearing in mind
that more expensive HDTVs tend to have better scalers than cheaper ones, and this
may be an issue.

However, for broadcasters it’s a live issue. Should they broadcast 1080 lines of
interlaced video or 720 lines of progressive scan? They could just broadcast two
signals, one in each format, but that would use up a huge chunk of bandwidth and
be hugely expensive for very little gain.

To answer the question, it’s important to understand the difference between 720p
vs 1080i. A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed
in its entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is know as progressive scan
(hence the ‘p’)The quality is like watching 30 photographic images a second on TV.
A 1080i signal comprises 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed
on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the ‘i’), ie every other
lines is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the alternate lines are displayed
for 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each
frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously.

Most of the time interlacing works fine, but for fast moving images, such as sports
like baseball and hockey it can cause problems which manifest themselves as a
’stepping’ effect on-screen. Progressive scan signals don’t have this problem and so
are better suited to sports.

ESPN puts it like this: ‘Progressive scan technology produces better images for the
fast moving orientation of sports television. Simply put, with 104 mph fastballs in
baseball and 120 mph shots on goal in hockey, the line-by-line basis of progressive
scan technology better captures the inherent fast action of sports. For ESPN,
progressive scan technology makes perfect sense.’

Bottom line? For us, as consumers 720p vs 1080i is not a debate worth worrying
about, so you can relax and focus on all the other criteria on your list when you buy
your next HDTV.

Xbox 360 light red problems affect approximately one in three Xbox 360 consoles, according to many various studies that have been carried out since the platform’s release over two years ago. What causes the dreaded “red ring of death”, and how can it be fixed in the quickest, easiest and most reliable manner possible? Today you are going to find the answers to those questions, and learn how you can be gaming again in less time than it takes to watch a movie at the cinemas.

The main cause of Xbox 360 light red errors is that of overheating. Too much heat is able to build up inside the console far too quickly due to a lack of cooling devices such as heat sinks and fans. As most of you will be aware, heat is a major cause of malfunctioning in all electronic devices- the Xbox 360 is no exception. To prevent further damage from occurring, your Xbox 360 then shuts itself down and displays the three red light error to warn you that something quite major has gone wrong.

One way you can fix your Xbox 360 is to send it to Microsoft for repair. However- there is a slight problem with taking this approach, as you will have to wait quite a long time to receive a replacement console. Also, if the warranty has expired on your Xbox 360 it will cost you upwards of $100 to have it fixed.

That’s why the best way to fix the red light error on your Xbox 360 is to repair it yourself with the help of a repair guide, which is a collection of video files that will show you how to determine the exact fault in your console then fix it in a correct, easy and reliable manner.

The repair methods mentioned in repair guides really do work- they are not simply some con designed to fleece you of your money. Speaking of money, you are looking at a cost of around $30 USD to purchase a repair guide, which is not too expensive.

When purchasing one, look for the following features -

1. HD video files.
2. Free updates.
3. A good money back guarantee.
4. Free, 24/7 customer support.
5. Customer testimonials on the sales page.

Caveat

Before I start I’ll mention that I prefer to use a wired connection whenever possible. Wireless is subject to many sources of interference particularly in urban and some suburban areas where there are many different wireless signals that can interfere. Interference can come from cell phones and cellular phone towers. Even wireless devices in a nearby neighbor’s home or apartment can cause interference.

Let’s Get Started

I will show how to connect your PC wirelessly to your television. The best device I’ve been able to find for transmitting wireless audio to your stereo also includes a video adapter. The GWB-4000 Wireless PC to TV System by Grandtec was designed to allow computer presentations, games, and Internet browsing to be professionally shown on televisions or video projectors. The device is currently sold online for $149. (Wired connections can be done for under $30).

Grandtec provides with a complete with all the cables and connectors you need to connect your PC to your television and stereo system. They also include manuals for setting everything up, but I’ll discuss the process all the same.

Setup: Safety First

Remember to turn off your computer, stereo, and television when setting up this connection. Make sure the entire connection process is completed before turning on any of these devices. There’s little risk of hurting yourself, but your home electronics are much more sensitive.

Setup: The Basics

The Grandtec GWB-4000 has two boxes. One connects to the audio and video outputs on your computer, and the other box can be connected to the audio and video inputs of your television, or to the audio inputs on your home stereo. If you have a home audio-video receiver as part of your home entertainment system, the box can be connected to it as well. Each box has its own power adapter.

As with all wireless devices, they work best when there are few obstruction between the transmitter and the receiver. The GWB-4000 has a range of 125 to 150 feet, but too many walls and heavy appliances directly between the two boxes will reduce the reception quality. I’ve found microwave ovens and refrigerators put up the greatest interference. Try to imagine a line drawn straight between the two boxes and observe if any appliances are directly on that line. If yes, try to position the boxes so the imaginary line is as unobstructed as much possible. Position the two boxes as close to one another as possible.

Setup: The PC Side

The GWB-4000 kit has a box which connects to the back of your computer. Though the box has a range of 100 feet try to position it so there are few obstructions between it and the box that connects to your television.

Looking at the picture at right, you connect the provided PC audio (sound) cable to the lime-green colored line out connection on the back of your PC, and the other end of that cable goes to the mini phone stereo connection on the box.

If you are connecting to your television, disconnect your computer’s monitor cable from the back of the PC, the attach the provided VGA pass-through cable to the same connection on the PC. The other end of the cable connects to the scan converter connection on the box. You’ll see there’s a connection remaining on the pass-through cable for reattaching your PC’s monitor.

Connect the power adapter to the PC box and wall outlet or power strip/surge protector.

Setup: The TV Side

The TV box: The box that connects to the television or stereo has composite video out connection (yellow). Attach the provided composite video cable from that connection to the video in connection on your television or home audio-video receiver. They also have an alternate S-video connection. Use the S-video cable if you can for better picture quality.

There are red and white RCA audio (sound) connections oon the box. Attach the RCA cables provided to the appropriate color connection (red to red, white to white) and do the same to the any available audio in on your television or stereo.

Some of the more expensive stereo receivers and television sets have multiple connections, and you may see connections labeled “Video In 1″ and “Video In 2″. If you are using the GWB-4000 kit for audio and video make sure if you connect to “Video In 1″ that you also use “Audio In 1″. Mismatching numbers will either result in video without sound, or sound without video.

Turning It All On

Turn on your computer and your stereo or television and follow the instructions provided with the kit for getting the best sound and picture results possible for your setup. There are several different channels your GWB-4000 can transmit on, and you’ll want to find out which gives you the best results. Some urban areas might have more sources of interference. Also, be careful not to have the volume up to load on your TV or stereo, the initial volume levels on a PC can be loud and could damage your audio system on your TV or stereo, so always start out at a low volume before turning it up.

If you have any trouble, you might try contacting a home theater specialist in your area to help out.

Many who own an iPod agree that they cannot live without it; this is why a home theater with iPod dock is so popular now. It lets you take advantage of high quality audio and video but you don’t have to plug yourself into the machine by way of earbuds.

Your close family and friends will be thrilled to see how well the ipod works with the home theater system and will enjoy sharing anything that is on the hard drive. A favourite ipod is the fifth generation ipod which allows displaying videos and photos - this one is perfect to use with your home theater system. You can watch music videos downloaded from Apple itunes. The best part is, if you have a large TV screen, a group of your loved ones can enjoy seeing the family photos and relive the old memories they invoke.

To use these features you will need a home theater with iPod dock. This is actually an audio/video dock for the ipod itself. This device connects to your existing home theater and allows the two devices to ‘talk’ to each other. Your home theater systems remote control can also control your ipod once you are docked. This allows you to view tracks on your ipod play list. The dock also charges your ipod so, actually you are doing two things at once.

Although the latest iPods are very compatible with your home theater the older ones can also work quite well. The music from your iPod can be played through the home theater system making your experience even more pleasurable. You can easily use your home theater receiver to access your favorites and play list. If your home theater has audio enhancements such as Dolby Pro Logic II, the music from your iPod will be greatly enhanced too.

For a truly great audio and video experience make sure to get a home theater with iPod dock. That way you can enjoy the favorite tunes that you carry around with you when you get home at night as well. Plus there’s the added bonus of your enhanced home theater audio. You’ll have the best of both worlds!

The Sony PSP 3000 is Sony’s newest advancement in mobile gaming. The 3000 is certainly an upgrade from previous PSP models. Right away you notice that the color looks sharper and brighter. At times in older models, when you went into a dark area in the game it became hard to see and navigate your way around the game. The sony PSP 3000 also features Skype, and built in microphone to further advance the PSP in online gaming. The PSP also has a great game lineup with many of your favorite titles from the original playstation as well as new titles. Many of these titles also offer graphics that are superb to titles available for the Nintendo DS.

While the 3000 is definitely a step in the right direction, that does not mean that the system is perfect. During graphic intense moments while gaming, the system often displays scan lines and even has some lag while it computes what’s going on. The screen also has problems of its own. If you are able to actually remove all of the fingerprints the screen seems to attract, you then have to worry about the glare. I don’t think anyone is sure why Sony isn’t using glare resistant screens with their PSP’s, as it has been one of the biggest complaints throughout their production.

In conclusion, if you own a PSP already, it’s probably not worth the upgrade. If you are considering buying a PSP, the 3000 is the best model currently available. The PSP 3000 is a step in the right direction, but the system is still far from perfect.